Means for starting internal-combustion engines.



P. STERN. MEANS FOR STARTING INIERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 26. 19M.

Patent-9d Oct. 9, 1917.

Mr m 8/ c .nn rnnsm'rng PATENT ornron j rnncrvnn STERN, or NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIAN'IAV MEANs FOR STARTING -I 'TERNA :coivnausTroN NNeiNEs.

To all whom it may comer-m; I Be it known that I, PEROIVAIJ STERN a citizen of the United States, residing at'l ew Orleans, parish of Orleans, and State of Louisiana, have invented a certain new and useful Means for Starting Internal-Combustion Engines, of which the following is a specification V This invention is a means forfstarting internal combustion: engines, the. same being useful particularly in cold weather. T It is well known that difficulty is experienced in startinginto operation engines of the internal combustion type, more especially in cold weather. This is due, mainly,

to the fact that the gasolene is in such acold condition that it does not mix well with air, nor Will it ignite readily within the cylinders. i

As a remedy for this condition, it is pro posed to heat the liquid combustible and to convert the same into a vapor by the aid of a special appliance used in conjunction with the intake manifold or by an appliance interposed in the gas line leading to the carbureter, such special appliance in either form being electrically heated.

Accordingly, the broad feature'ofthis invention consists of an electrically heated device into contact with which the liquid combustible is caused to flow for the purpose of converting such liquid combustible unmixed with air into an explosive vapor, the latter being subsequently mixed with air and thereafter supplied to the engine cylinders under such conditions as to ignite at once when the engine is turned over or cranked, whereby the engine may be started into operation without priming the cylinders through the priming cocks as ordinarily practised, or requiring the operator to continuously hand crank the'engine, or involving delay and annoyance in starting the engine by the operation of the self starters, so called. I

According to one specific embodiment of the invention, I employ a plug attached, preferably, to the intake manifold, said plug being provided with an incased electrical resistance coil. Said coil is grounded at one end in the plug attached to the engine, but the Winding is insulated electrically by mica from the plug. To this winding is attached a conductor leading to a switch (push button) from which a conductor extends to a Specification of Letters Patent.

tion engine. 2

Patented Oct. 9', 1917. Application filed October 26, 1914. Serial 1\To.-868 ,5 Zi.

source of electrical energy, usually a teryof one form, or another, and from said battery extends a conductor grounded in the engine, whereby the operation of the switch. closes anuelectric. circuit be tween the battery andthe coil for the purpose of supplying current to said coil for heating the latter to the required temperaturein a fewminutes of time; The liquid combustible, usually gasolene, is supplied to the heating plug by a pipe leading'prefertherein when the engine is cranked.

()ther features of the invention and the advantages thereof will be apparent from the following detailed description.

I In the drawings,

'Figure l is a diagrammatic'view of my means for vaporizing a liquid combustible to be used in startingan internal combus- Fig. 2 is an through the electrically heated plug. 5

In the constructional form illustrated in Figs. land 2, A is a metal plug within threadedendpo'rtiona and a longitudinal borea, the latter being reduced in diameter at one end soas to result in an aperture at oneend portion of said plug. Withinthis longitudinal bore a is positioned a tube or sleeve D composed of 'insulating' material, such as mica, and cooperating with said sleeve or tube isthe resistance windingjB in such relation to the sleeve as to be insulatedielectrically thereby from the metal plug A. The winding is somewhat shorter than the plug so that said winding extends for a part of the length only of the plug, one end portion of said winding being mechanicallyattached to the plug whereas the other end portion of the winding is attached to a binding post Said post extends through the aperture in the end portion of the plug, from which said post is insulated by washenlarged sectional view which is incased a resistance coil or winding part of the engine, preferably to the intake e manifold F thereof. A hole is tapped in the manifold at a suitable point, and into this hole is screwed the threaded end portion a of the plug.

The liquid combustible, usually msolene,

w is supplied to the resistance coil so as to flow into direct contact therewith, whereby the heated coil vaporizes said liquid, 2'. 6.,0011- verts it into a. highly volatile vapor. The conversion of the liquid combustible into vapor takes place in a chamber free from communication with air, so that the conversion takes place under such conditions that atmospheric air is not mixed with the vapor simultaneously with its production it being observed that the liquid combustible is led a into contact with the coil positioned within a closed chamber, thus precluding a destructive explosion in case of a back-lire; Subsequent to vaporization of t 1e liquid, thevapor flows into the manifold so as to mix with air usually'present in said manifold and thereafter the mixture is drawn into the cylinders when the engine is turned over, whereby the vapor is adapted to be exploded by a spark from the usual spark plugs so as to start the engine promptly in cold weather.

The liquid combustible is fed through pipe C independent of the gas line from the tank to the carbureter. In the case of automobile engines, the pipe C leads from the plug A to and through the dash, said pipe being associated with suitable means for feeding the liquid combustible. As shown,

the pipe is attached to a priming cock G,

. the latter being provided with a cup and with a plug valve as usual, whereby a small quantity of gasolene may be poured into the priming cup and, with the valve opened, the liquid finds its way through the feed pipe s to the plug A so as to flow into direct contact with the heated resistance winding, it being understood that said feed pipe is attached to said plug A for feeding the liquid combustible interiorly of the plug and to 5 said resistance winding. If desired, a tank may be positioned on the dash andabove the priming cock G for holding a limited supply of the liquid combustible so as to render the same available instantly for feeding the liquid to the vaporizer. I r

From the binding post E a conductor it leads to a switch H, the same being shown as a push button positioned on the dash, and from said switch a conductor it leads to 0 a source of electrical energy, such as a battery I, from which a. conductor 2' leads to the engine so as to be grounded therein.

The operation is simple and readily apparent from the description. A small quantity of gasolene is introduced into the prim- .ing cup .G, either from a sm ll a k Or any other available source, the cock being closed. The operator adjusts the switch H for clos- 'ing the circuit so that current flows from battery I into and through the coil or wind ing l3, heating the latter in a few minutes time to the required temperature, after which the switch is opened. The priming cock is now vopened for the liquid combustible to flow by gravity through the feed pipe, into the plug 'A-and into direet contact with the hot resistance winding, the result of which is to convert the liquid into vapor, the latter flowing-into the manifold and mixing with the air presentthereimthereby producing a highly volatile vapor which is supplied to the cylinders. By turning the engine over, the vapor is drawn into the cylinders and ignited by the'spark plugs,

thereby starting the engine within a: few minutes during cold weather and with practically no labor on the part of the operator.

lVhenthe device is not usedfor starting the engine, it may be utilized during the operation of said engine for feeding additional to the gaseous mixture flowing from the carburetor through the intake manifold to the cylinders. By opening the priming cock G, air will be drawn through the pipe G into the intake manifold so as to with the gaseous mixture supplied thereto by the carburetor, thus incorporating additional quantities of oxygen into the mixture and increasing the combustible properties of such mixture.

This invention performs several important functions in the starting of an internal combustion engine and in the operation thereof.

As has been stated the invention 0 oerates as carbonizing agent within the cylinders and other parts of the engine. Furthermore, the device may,-under some conditions, be used independently of or inconnection with the ordinary carbureter to the end that the en gine may be runin a manner to test the car'- bureter. i

Having thus fullyv described the invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is z 1. The combination with an internalcombustion engine, of starting means therefor of the main fuel supply to the engine for feeding interiorly of said chambered member a liquid combustible which is free to flow into direct contactwith said electrical resistance, said chambered member being in communication with said engine manifold for the resulting vapor to flow into saidmanifold and to be mixed with air within the latter prior to admission to the engine cylinders.

2. The combination with an'intake manifold of an internal combustion engine, of a starting device embodying a chambered member attached to said manifold at a'point intermediate its intake and outlet, said chambered member being closed against the admission of atmospheric air thereto, a resistance coil positioned within said chambered member and exposed therein for the direct contact therewith of a liquid combustible, means controllable at will for supplying an electric current to the resistance coil for heating the latter to a temperature suitable to efiect the vaporization of a liquid combustible, and means controllable at will and independent of the main fuel supply to the engine for feeding interiorly of said chambered member a liquid combustible which is free to flow into direct contact with said resistance coil whereby the liquid combustible is vaporized within said chambered member, the resulting vapor being free to flow out of the chambered member and into said manifold for admixture with air therein prior to admission to the engine fold of an internal combustion engine, of a starting device embodying a chambered member one end portion of which is attached to said manifold at. a point intermediate its intake and outlet, the other end portion of said chambered member being closed against the admission of atmospheric air thereto, a resistance coil positioned within. the chambered member and exposed therein for free contact with a liquid combustible, a valved liquid pipe connected to' said chambered member intermediate its ends for feeding to the interior of said chambered member a liquid combustible which is free to flow lengthwise of the chambered member and into direct contact with said electrical resistance, whereby the liquid combustible is vaporized within said member, and a priming cup independent of the main liquid supply to the engine for feeding a liquid combustible to said liquid pipe, said priming cup and the valved pipe affordingv means for feeding through the chambered member a medium other than a liquid combustible.

t. The combination with the manifold of an internal combustion engine, of a chambered plug attached to said intake manifold,

anelectrical resistance positioned within being also operable at will for feeding air 7 through said chambered plug to said manifold.

' In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

Witnesses:

H. I. BERNHARD, M. O. RODRIGUEZ.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. 0.

PERoIvAL STERN. 

